UGM celebrated the 78th anniversary of Indonesian Independence Day with a flag-raising ceremony at the UGM Central Building courtyard on Thursday (17/8).
The ceremony was attended by UGM’s academic community and led by the rector, Professor Ova Emilia, MD.
“Through the moment of the flag-raising ceremony to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia, let us all reflect once again on the meaning of independence,” urged the rector.
Professor Emilia mentioned that Indonesia requires collective efforts to advance toward future civilization.
“High-quality education is the main foundation for realizing national development with high-quality human resources,” she explained.
As the first university established by the government of the Republic of Indonesia after independence, Professor Emilia stated that UGM is committed to providing equal access to education as widely as possible to reach all segments of society, including those in the 3T (frontier, outermost, underdeveloped) regions.
“In the new student admissions for 2023, at least 149 students from border areas have been admitted at UGM,” she added.
To support the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (Freedom to Learn – Independent Campus) programs, UGM is among the 34 universities implementing the flagship program of Kampus Merdeka, known as Wirausaha Merdeka (WMK).
Furthermore, UGM has welcomed 290 students from 98 universities outside Java through the Pertukaran Mahasiswa Merdeka (PMM) program.
This program aims to provide students with the opportunity to learn outside their home campus, offering a wide range of chances to develop knowledge and skills. It also serves as a platform for students to learn about the diverse cultures of the archipelago.
On the same occasion, the rector welcomed 7,060 UGM students participating in the Community Service Program (KKN-PPM) in 2023.
She hopes that students’ learning experiences off campus will broaden their views on academic growth and character development so they can make future contributions to community life.
In conclusion, the rector urged the academic community to continue delivering the meaning of independence through hard work, innovation, collaboration, and synergy in the spirit of mutual assistance for sustainable growth and progress for the nation’s glory.
Author: Ika
Photographer: Firsto